Regulating apparatus for steam-generators.



B. F. SILLIMAN. BEGULATING APPARATUS r011 STEAM GENERATORS.

" YAPPLIOATION FILED APEHZO, 1908.

1,015,843. Patented Jan.- 30, 1912.

. 1, z SHEETS-SHEET 1.

COLUMBIA PLANDGRAPH 60., WASHINGTON. D. c.

B. F. SILLIMAN. BEGULATING APPARATUS FOR STEAM GENERATORS.

APPLIOATION FILED APR. 20, 1908.

Patented Jan. 30, 1912.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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BENJAMIN F. SILLIMAN, 0F CLEVELAND, OHIO.

REGITLATING APPARATUS FOR STEAM-GENERATORS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 30, 1912.

Application filed April 20, 1908. Serial No. 428,043.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, BENJAMIN F. SILLI- MAN, a citizen of the United States, resident of Cleveland, county of Cuyahoga, and State of Ohio, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Regulating Apparatus for Steam-Generators, of which the following is a specification, the principle of the invention being herein explained and the best mode in which I have contemplated applying that'principle, so as to distinguish it from other inventions.

The present invention relating, as indicated, to the regulation of steam generators, has more particular regard to such regulation in connection with generators of the so called flasher type, which are largely used in connection with automobiles, launches, and the like. In such generators, as is well known, the water is entered at an upper coil and the steam delivered from a lower coil, which is the hottest part of the boiler, the fuel being concurrently supplied to the burner in properly correlated quantity to that of the water so as to provide steam at the desired temperature and pressure. Usually this type of generator is employed at high pressures, the steam being superheated, and this fact aside from the general principles of operation involved therein, renders such generators more or less unreliable in operation as well as short lived, considerable experience and skill being furthermore required in their successful use. For this reason some system of regulation more or less automatic in character has been regarded as necessary in order to enable the generator to meet the exigencies of use with the frequently changing demand for power imposed by the conditions of such use.

The object of the present invention is the provision of a more perfect and satisfactory type of automatic regulating apparatus for use in the connection just referred to. ,To this end said invention, then, consists of the means hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims.

The annexed drawings and the following description set forth in detail certain mechanism embodying the invention, such disclosed means constituting, however, but one of various mechanical forms in which the principle of the invention may be used.

In said annexed drawings: Figure 1 represents in more or less diagrammatic fashion a steam generator and an arrangement of apparatus in connection therewith embodying the principle of operation of my invention; Figs. 2, 3, and 4, represent, in section, various details of such apparatus.

Referringto Fig. 1 and the general arrangement of apparatus there illustrated, the generator will be seen to comprise a tubular boiler A, the specific construction of which is a matter of indifference so far as the present invention is concerned; any one of the several prevailing types of generator, in other words, will prove equally susceptible to regulation by the apparatus herein shown; Water is supplied to the generator through a feed pipe a and the steam is leditherefrom to the engine (not shown) through a steam pipe a. The heating means necessarily provided in connection with the generator A, comprise a burner A, shown in conventional form, to which the fuel is led through a supply pipe a Such fuel, whether gaseous or liquid, is designed to be supplied from a tank or the like (not shown) under suitable constant pressure to force the same to the burner, where it is ignited. Thev supply of water to the generator, on the other hand, is furnished by a pump B, shown as a double-cylinder pump for reasons presently to be explained, that is connected with suitable driving means, preferably the engine operated by the generator. Pump B is designed to be regulated independently of the apparatus herein shown and described so as to operate responsively to the supply of water admitted thereto by the regulating device 0 (constituting a part of the present apparatus), such pump being located between the last-named regulating device and the generator. Any suitable form of governor may be thus employed to control the pump. The particular location of the pump, however, is immaterial since, if desired, regulating device C may be located between the pump and the generator, and the excess of water forced by the pump be diverted back again to the tank. The former arrangement, however, is the more desirable, since unnecessary waste of power is thereby avoided. Turning then to the regulating apparatus proper, such apparatus will be seen to comprise three separate devices, one, C, of which, for controlling the supply of water to the pump, has already been referred to. The second device A is provided in connection with the fuel supply pipe a for regulating the amount of fuel furnished thereby, while the third B adjoins one cylinder of the pump B described above, cooperating with said cylinder to render the same inoperative on occasion. Each of these three devices is actuated by pressure fluid supplied from a common source (not shown) through suitable ducts or passages cl. Each of these devices will now be examined more particularly with a view of ascertaining the character of the operation in the devices effected by such pressure fluid and the mode of regulating the supply of such fluid to vary such operation.

Regulating device 0, Fig. 4, for controlling the supply of water to the pump, com prises simply a reciprocable piston valve 0, the larger face of which is adapted to be exposed to the pressure fluid in a diaphragm chamber a. chamber is controlled by a second, or pilot, valve 0 operated by the pressure in a diaphragm chamber 0 that has connection with the steam pipe 66 leading from the generator. The opposite side of such last named valve being exposed simultaneously to the air pres sure in a chamber a, a differential effect will be had and the sensitiveness of action on the part of the pilot valve thus increased. Com pression springs c c are provided in connection with valves 0 and 0 respectively, being adapted to normally hold the same in closed position, and a small vent opening 0 in the casing of chamber 0 serves to relieve the pressure in such chamber immediately upon the supply of pressure fluid being cut off by valve 0.

The device A regulating the supply of fuel to the burner, is shown in Fig. 2 and comprises in effect aneedle valve a that is normally maintained in closed position by a spring a, while actuation thereof to open the supply is had by admission of pressure fluid into diaphragm chamber a, the diaphragm, forming one wall of this chamber, being connected with the valve in question. The regulating device B, connected with the one cylinder of pump B includes a reciprocable plunger 6 adapted to hold off its seat the check valve 5 located in the inlet pipe 6 of such cylinder. This plunger is movable by a flexible diaphragm in a chamber 5 exposed to the same pressure fluid as the other previously described regulating de vices. Such pressure fluid, when thus allowed to act, obviously renders the pump cylinder in question inoperative, the pressure in the water supply main a being assumed to be less than that againstwhich the water must be forced in order to cause it to Admission of such fluid to this enter the generator. Upon the pressure be ing lowered in diaphragm chamber 6 a spring Z) is effective to retract plunger 6 thus allowing the check valve to seatitself again whereupon the pump cylinder afl'ected operates normally. A vent opening (Z is provided in the pressure fluid duct (Z that leads to the device B, adjustment of the amount of the leak permitted therethrough being had by means of a set screw see Fig. l.

The supply of pressure fluid to the fuel regulating and pump regulating devices, A B, respectively, is simultaneously had by a thermostatic device A in connection with the generator. While such device may take on various forms, it preferably consists of the lower terminal portion of the generator coil a which is straightened out and disposed transversely of the generator shell, as shown. The inner end of such straightened section being secured to the shell, the other end will obviously have a slight move ment as the tube section in question expands and contracts in response to changes of temperature in the generator. Whether such changes be due to changes in the temperature of the steam vapor within the tube, or by reason of the undue heating effect of the generator, which is located in direct proximity thereto, will make no difference so far as the operation of this thermostat is concerned. Connected with the outer, free, or movable, end a of the tube section constituting the thermostat is a valve e fitted in a valve-casing D interposed in the line of pressure fluid supply between the source of pressure supply and the two regulating devices A B to which reference has been last made, expansion of the tube being effective to close the valve and thus shut off the supply of pressure fluid to both devices.

Pressure-fluid supply pipe is furthermore provided with a general control valve (5" whereby the pressure may simultaneously be cut off from the several regulating devices A B and G, and the latter allowed to assume their normal positions, namely device 'A will close off the fuel supply, device B will permit its valve 5 to seat, thus restoring the corresponding pump cylinder to its operative condition, and regulator C will open wide the supply of liquid to the generator. All this, it will be evident, is done quite irrespective of the particular condition of any such regulating devices by reason of the steam-pressure control in the one case, or the thermostatic control in the case of the two others. In addition I provide for operation of general pressure control valve P (Z conjointly with the operation of throttle valve a in steam delivery pipe at by connecting levers (Z a mounted on the respective valves, with a common actuating rod E.

The results just noted as occurring upon the closing valve (Z are accordingly automatically jointed to and made coincident with the closing of throttle valve 11 Having thus described the structure of the several parts of my improved regulating system, and necessarily at the same time the operation of such parts it merely remains to indicate briefly the manner in which they cooperate in the production of the desired result, viz. the generation of steam in proper amount and under desired pressure to supply the varying needs of the motor. Assuming then the latter to be at a standstill the throttle and general pressure control valves will be simultaneously opened by means of rod E. The admission of pressure fluid to duct (Z will not alter the status of regulator C, but will open full the fuel supply, as also throw out, or render inoperative, the pump cylinder with which regulator A is associated. The predetermined amount of water fed by the single pump cylinder, that is in operation, is promptly converted into steam since the burner is operating to give a maximum heating efiect.

This condition of parts continues as long as the demand for power is equal to that which is provided by the vaporization of the predetermined supply of water. This, it is designed, will be sufficient to supply the maximum normal demand that may be placed upon the generator. Accordingly as the pressure in the generator mounts up, owing to less power being required than such maximum, regulator G is affected, and the supply of water out down. Simultaneously with such increase in steam pressure, and still more upon decrease in water supply, thermostat A is actuated by the unabsorbed heat of the burner to decrease the supply of fuel. Should the heat in the generator still be too great the further expansion of the thermostat, aside from more completely, or entirely, closingoif the fuel supply, will be effective to throw into operation the second pump cylinder thereby increasing the supply of liquid to the boiler beyond the predetermined amount corresponding with the contemporaneous demand for power. By reason of the unique construction of thermostat utilized in my regulating system, this additional supply of water will also occur whenever for any other reason the heating of the boiler becomes abnormal. Thus it operates when the lower portion of the coil becomes dry just as readily as when the steam contained within the coil reaches an immoderate temperature.

Other modes of applying the principle of my invention may be employed instead of the one explained, change being made as regards the mechanism herein disclosed, provided the means stated by any one of the following claims or the equivalent'of such stated means be employed.

I therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as my invention 1. In apparatus of the character described, the combination of a generator; heating means cooperative therewith; means for regulating the supply of liquid to said generator and of fuel to said heating means, respectively; fluid-pressure actuated means for operating each of said regulating means; means, operating automatically according to the demand for power upon said generator, for controlling the supply of pressure fluid to said fluid-pressure actuated means; and means adapted simultaneously to throttle said generator and control such supply of pressure fluid.

2. In apparatus of the class described, the combination of a generator; heating means cooperative therewith; means for regulating the supply of fuel to said heating means, said regulating means normally tending to cut off such supply; fluid-pressure means adapted to open such supply; and thermostatic means in connection with said generator for controlling the supply of pressure fluid to said last-named means.

3. In apparatus of the class described, the combination of a flasher type generator; heating means cooperative therewith; means for regulating the supply of fuel to said heating means, said regulating means normally tending to cut ofl such supply; fluidpressure means adapted to open such supply; and thermostatic means, consisting of a portion of the coil of said generator, for controlling the supply of pressure fluid to said last-named means.

4. In apparatus of the class described, the combination of a flasher type generator; heating means cooperative therewith; means for regulating the supply of fuel to said heating means, said regulating means normally tending to cut off such supply; fluidpressure means adapted to open such supply; and thermostatic means, consisting of the lower terminal portion of the coil of said generator, for controlling the supply of pressure fluid to said last-named means.

5. In apparatus of the class described, the combination of a generator; heating means cooperative therewith; means for, controlling the supply of fuel to said heating means, said controlling means normally tending to cut off such supply; fluid-pressure means adapted to open such supply; and means adapted simultaneously to throttle said generator and control such supply of pressure-fluid.

6. In apparatus of the class described, the combination of a generator; heating means cooperative therewith; means for control ling the supply of fuel to said heating means, said controlling means normally tending to cut off such supply; fluid-pressure means adapted to open such supply; .3

thermostatic means in connection with said generator for controlling the supply of pressure-fluid to said last-named means; and means adapted simultaneously to throttle said generator and control such supply of pressure-fluid.

7. I11 apparatus of the class described, the combination of a generator; heating means cooperative therewith; means for regulating the supply of liquid to said generator and of fuel to said heating means, respectively, the fuel-supply regulating means normally tending to cut-off such supply; fluid-pressure actuated means for operating each of said regulating means, said fluid-pressure actuated means being adapted, in the case of the fuel-supply regulating means, to open the supply; and means, operating automatiially according to the demand for power upon said generator, for controlling the supply of pressure fluid to said fluid-pressure actuated means, respectively.

8. In apparatus of the class described, the combination of a generator; heating means cooperating therewith; means for regulating the supply of liquid to said generator and of fuel to said heating means, respectively, the liquid-supply regulating means normally tending to open, and the fuel-supply regulating means to close, the corresponding supply; fluidpressure actuted means adapted to open said fuel supply and close said liquid supply, respectively;

and means, respectively aflected by the temperature and pressure in said generator, for controlling the supply of pressure fluid to said fluid-actuated means, respectively.

9. In apparatus of the class described, the combination of a flasher type generator; heating means cooperative therewith; means for regulating the supply of liquid to said generator and of fuel to said heating means, respectively, the liquid-supply regulating means normally tending to open, and the fuel-supply regulating means to close, the corresponding supply; fluid-pressure actuated means adapted to open said fuel supply, and close said liquid supply, respectively; thermostatic means, consisting of a portion of the coil of said generator, for controlling the supply of pressure-fluid to the pressure actuated means connected with the fuel-supply regulating means; and a device, affected by the pressure in said generator, for controlling the supply of such fluid to the pressure actuated means connected with the liruiid-supply regulating means.

10. In apparatus of the class described, the combination of a generator; heating means cooperative therewith; means adapted to supply a constant amount of liquid to said generator; other means adapted to increase the amount of liquid thus supplied, said last-named means being normally inoperative; and thermostatic means in connection with said generator adapted to rened to supply a constant amount of liquid to said generator; other means adapted to increase the amountof liquid thus supplied; fluid-pressure actuated means adapted to render said last-named means inoperative; and thermostatic means in connection with said generator adapted to out 01f the supply of pressure fluid from said fluidpressure actuated means.

12. In apparatus of the class described, the combination of a generator; heating means cooperative therewith; two pumps for supplying liquid to said generator; means, affected by the pressure in said generator, for controlling the amount of liquid thus supplied by both said pumps; inde pendent means, affected by the temperature in said generator, for controlling the amount supplied by one of said pumps.

13. In apparatus of the class described, the combination of a generator; heating means cooperative therewith; two pumps for supplying liquid to said generator; means, affected by the pressure in said generator, for controlling the amount of liquid thus supplied by both said pumps; fluid pressure actuated means adapted to normally render one of said pumps inoperative; and thermostatic means in connection with said generator adapted to cut off the supply of pressure fluid from said fluid-pressure actuated means, and thereby render said pump operative.

14. In apparatus of the class described, the combination of a generator; heating means cooperative therewith; two pumps for supplying liquid to said generator; means adapted to regulate the amount of liquid thus supplied by both said pumps, said means leaving such supply normally open; fluid-pressure actuated means adapted to close said regulating means; other fluidpressure actuated means adapted to normally render one of said pumps inoperative; means adapted .upon predetermined pressure in said generator to open the supply of pressure fluid to said first-named fluid-pressure actuated means; and thermostatic means in connection with said generator adapted to cut off the supply of such fluid to said lastnamed fluid-pressure actuated means.

15. In apparatus of the class described, the combination of a generator; heating means cooperative therewith; means adapt ed to supply a constant amount of liquid to said generator; other means adapted to increase the amount of liquid thus supplied; fluid-pressure actuated means adapted to render said last-named means inoperative; thermostatic means in connection with said generator adapted to cut off the supply of pressure-fluid from said fluid-actuated means; and means adapted independently to cut off the supply of such fluid and to simultaneously throttle said generator.

16. In apparatus of the class described, the combination of a generator; heating means cooperative therewith; means adapted to supply a constant amount of liquid to said generator; and means, operating automatically according to the demand for power upon said generator, respectively adapted to increase the amount of liquid thus supplied and to cut off the supply of fuel to said generator.

17. In apparatus of the class described, the combination of a generator; heating means cooperative therewith; means adapted to increase the amount of liquid thussupplied, said last-named means being normally inoperative; thermostatic means in connection with said generator adapted to render said last-named means operative; and means, similarly controlled by said thermostatic means, adapted to cut off the supply of fuel to said heating means.

18. In apparatus of the class described, the combination of a generator; heating means cooperative therewith; means adapted to supply a constant amount of liquid to said generator; fluid-pressure actuated means respectively adapted to increase the amount of liquid thus supplied and to cut off the supply of fuel to said heating means; and thermostatic means in connection with said generator for controlling the supply of pressure-fluid to said fluid-pressure actuated means.

19. In apparatus of the class described, the combination of a generator; heating means cooperative therewith; means adapted to increase the amount of liquid thus supplied, said last-named means being normally inoperative; fluid-pressure actuated means respectively adapted to render said lastnamed means operative and to cut off the supply of fuel to said heating means; and thermostatic means in connection with said generator for controlling the supply of pressure-fluid to said fluid-pressure actuated means.

20. In apparatus of the class described, the combination of a generator; heating means cooperative therewith; two pumps for supplying liquid to said generator; means, affected by the pressure in said generator, for controlling the amount of liquid supplied by both said pumps; independent means, affected by the temperature in said generator, adapted to control the amount of liquid supplied by one of said pumps; and other means, likewise affected by the temperature in said generator, adapted to regulate the supply of fuel to said heating means.

21. In apparatus of the class described,

the combination of a generator; heating means cooperative therewith; two pumps for supplying liquid to said generator; means, affected by the pressure in said generator, for controlling the amount of liquid supplied by both said pumps; fluidpressure actuated means respectively adapted to normally render one of said pumps inoperative and to cut off the supply of fuel to said heating means; and thermostatic means in connection with said generator for controlling the supply of pressure-fluid to said fluid-pressure actuated means.

22. In apparatus of the class described, the combination of a generator; heating means cooperative therewith; two pumps for supplying liquid to said generator; means adapted to regulate the amount of liquid thus supplied by both said pumps, said means leaving such supply normally open; fluid-pressure actuated means adapted to close said regulating means; other means respectively adapted to normally render one of said pumps operative and to cut ofi the supply of fuel to said heating means, said means being actuated by fluidpressure to render said pump inoperative and to open such fuel supply; means adapted upon predetermined pressure 1n s a1d generator to open the supply of pressure-fluid to said first-named fluid-pressure actuated means; and thermostatic means in connection with said generator adapted to cut off the supply of such fluid to said other fluidpressure actuated means.

23. In apparatus of the class described, the combination of a generator; heating means cooperative therewith; two pumps for supplying liquid to said generator; means adapted to regulate the amount of liquid thus supplied by both said pumps, said means leaving such supply normally open; fluid-pressure actuated means adapted to close said regulating means; other means respectively adapted to normally render one of said pumps operative and to cut ofi" the supply of fuel to said heating means, said means being actuated by fluid-pressure to render said pump inoperative and to open such fuel supply; means adapted upon predetermined pressure in said generator to open the supply of pressure-fluid to said first-named fluid-pressure actuated means; and thermostatic means, consisting of a portion of the coil generator, adapted upon a predetermined temperature in the latter to cut off the supply of such fluid to said other fluid-pressure actuated means.

24. In apparatus of the class described, the combination of a generator; heating means cooperative therewith; two pumps for supplying liquid to said generator: means adapted to regulate the amount of liquid thus supplied by both said pumps, said means leaving such supply normally open; fluid-pressure actuated means adapted to close said regulating means; other means respectivelyadapted to normally render one of said pumps operative and to cut ofi the supply of fuel to said heating means, said means being actuated by fluid-pressure 4 to render said pump inoperative and to open such fuel supply; means adapted upon predetermined pressure in said generator to open the supply of pressurefiuid to said first-named fluid-pressure actuated means; and thermostatic means, consisting of the lower terminal coil of said generator, adapted upon a predetermined temperature in the latter to cut off the supply of such fluid to said other fluid-pressure actuated means.

25. In apparatus of the class described, the combination of a generator; heating means cooperative therewith; two pumps for supplying liquid to said generator; means adapted to regulate the amount of liquid thus supplied by both said pumps, said means leaving such supply normally open; fluid-pressure actuated means adapted to close said regulating means; other means respectively adapted to normally render one of said pumps operative and to cut off the supply of fuel to said heating means, said means being actuated by fluid-pressure to render said pump inoperative and to open such fuel supply; means adapted upon predetermined pressure in said generator to open the supply of pressure-fluid to said first-named fluid-pressure actuated means; thermostatic means in connection With said generator adapted to cut off the supply of such fluid to said other fluid-pressure actuated means; and means adapted, independently of aforesaid means, to cut of the supply of such fluid and to simultaneously throttle said generator.

Signed by me, this 17th day of April, 1908.

BENJAMIN F. SILLIMAN.

Attested by MARY IsRAEL, JNO. F. OBERLIN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

